I just wanted to let anyone who is a member of Rainbow Bridge Angel Babies know that We are having a Photo Contest for the best Thanksgiving Photo. We will be awarding a Trophy Zealie and a certificate. We have revamped the Group and have lot's of new things to do!! Come check Us out!!! Contest details are in Our Forum.

Happy Birthday to My Special Boy!! I know You will have a Big Party at the Bridge with all the other Angels. Just know I'm thinking of You and Miss You very much!! You will always be My Kitty Sweetheart!!
Not a day goes by that I don't think about You. Have a Fun Birthday!!! I Love and Miss You very much and I always will!!!

Hi it's Me The Reb!! Today it's been 6 years since I left Friend and Other Friend for the Rainbow Bridge. I am lucky this year cause Stinky (Other Friend) was kind enough to write about Her memories of Me. She is the one who originally joined Catster for Me and helped Me write all those amusing Diary entries You can see at the beginning of My diary. These are Her thoughts of Me.

When I was growing up, I was always envious of the kids who had pets. Sharon had Sheena, the German Shepherd-Husky mix, who was the perfect guard dog and companion. Steve had Poopy, affectionately named because he was “brown and he smelled.” My big cousin Dan had 2, his dog Herman, and a cat named Indiana Jones (soon shortened to “Indy” once he discovered she was a girl.)

I wanted my own pet more than I wanted anything else. I wanted my own companion who would love me unconditionally, would play with me, and fall asleep with me. I settled for fish. I tried to make having fish fun, but really, let's be honest, fish are not suitable pets when everyone around you has amazing cats and dogs.

When I was 13, my wish finally came true in the form of a runt-of-the-litter Persian kitten. He was all white and fluffy, and he looked like a snowball that could fit in the palm of my hand. His eyes were bright copper, shiner than a new penny. His face looked as though someone has pushed into it, squished and flat. He was mine. My very own fuzzy companion.

His named was Rebel, because he never listened to anything, always disobeyed. I decided he needed a fancier name, so I expanded it to Sir Rebel Howard. Sir, to be fancy. Rebel, to keep that name. Howard, after the Backstreet Boy Howie D, because he was the least favorite, and I felt bad that no one would ever name anything after him. Mostly though, we all just called him, “Rebby.”

Rebby was truly the greatest companion. Rebby literally followed me everywhere. If I went into the kitchen, Rebby came too. If I wanted to sit in my room and watch television, Rebby would curl up on my bed and watch with me. If I needed to take a nap, Rebby found it was naptime for himself too. When I needed to go to the bathroom, Rebby patiently waited outside until I came out, and continued his stalking. At night, before bed, I would carry him to his bed, and placed him in it before kissing him on his head, and saying, “Goodnight!” No sooner would I get to my own bedroom door before he was already right next to me, because it was never truly bedtime for Rebby. So, there he would sit, outside my door, and wait patiently until I woke up the next morning.

Rebby was a supernatural clock. He just always knew what time it was. If I was at school, he just knew exactly when it was time to wait at the door for me to get home. If no one had woken to feed him at exactly the right time, he knew, and his paws were suddenly right under the door, reminding you that he was hungry, and you should be awake to feed him. Rebby was also really great at knowing when anyone was sad. If you even had a scent of gloom, Rebby was already there, being cute, or wanting you to rub his belly, or sticking his face under your chin, his own way of supporting you.

Cats typically live for 15 to 20 years, so I never gave it thought that Rebby might not be around well into my adulthood. Sadly, though, Rebby developed poly cystic kidney disease when he was only 6. Even through his vet visits, hooking him up to IV's to clean his kidneys, forcing medicine down his throat, and listening to him quietly meow when he was sure no one was around, Rebby remained unbelievably tough. It truly felt as though he understood exactly what was happening to him, but he didn't want anyone to worry, because it was his job to comfort us, and bring us joy. He stayed strong right on through that very moment when his eyes closed for the last time.

I feel so fortunate that Rebby was my first pet. What I learned from Rebby was what everyone else had already learned from their pets. Your pet is a member of the family, who loves you unconditionally without a thought, and truly becomes your best friend. Rebby brought me so much joy, and love that I will never ever forget, and I'm grateful that I had time with him, even if it was shorter time than normal. Rebby loved so much in 8 years, I think, because he wanted to make sure that love would last for the rest of our lifetimes, and it will. Nothing will ever make me forget that feeling of love I had to first time I held him in the palm of my hand, or that feeling of, “it's okay” the last time I held him in the vet's office. Rebby made sure that he was unforgettable. I miss him every day, I think about him every day, and I always smile or laugh when I remember something about him. Rebby was exactly the companion I always wanted, and I am so thankful that I had him.

Thank You so much Catster for the Diary of the Day Honor for Rebby. Today is my (Rebby's Mom) Birthday and this is the Greatest Birthday Present I could ever get!!!! Thank You so much Catster for giving Rebby this Honor!! He was one of the Best Kitties in the Whole Kitty World and this means so much to Us!!! Love From Rebby's Mom

Wow Rebby it has been 5 years since You left for the Bridge. I still Miss You so much it Hurts. You were the Best Kitty Boy anyone could ever ask for. I know The Day will come when I'll see You again and We will play Pen and Bouncy Cat. The other day We were talking about what a Good Boy You always were and We could not think of any Bad things You ever did. Other than playing in Your Water Dish which was more of a nervous habit You developed to calm You down so it doesn't count!! Just don't ever Forget how much I Love You and Miss You and look forward to seeing You again. Thanks for being the Sweet Boy You always were!! I Love You Reb!!